Improvement in watch-plates



UNITED STATES PA'IENT rrIcn.

FERDINAND A. LANGE, or eLAsnurrn, SAXONY.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATCH-PLATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,944, dated March23, 1875; application filed February 9, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND ADoLF LANGE, of Glashiitte, Saxony, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in W atches and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a top-plan view. Fig. 2 is a topplan view with parts A and Oremoved. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through the center of the barrel.Fig.4c is atop-planview of plateA.

The present improvement relates to the construction of the top plate,and in the arrangement and combination therewith of the barrel or casecontaining the mainspring, in such a manner that when occasion requires,as for repairing or cleaning the mainspring barrel and arbor, can bereadily removed from the watch without taking off the top plate ordisturbing the other parts of the watch, and also in turn be readilyreplaced 5 and it consists more particularly in cutting a slot from theouter edge of the top plate to the hole or aperture in which the arboror spindle revolves, and in so attaching to said arbor or spindle a bushor plate, that the said arbor can be secured thereby in its properposition in and to the top plate of the watch 5 or, on releasing saidbush or plate from its seat or position, said spindle or arbor can bereadily removed from the watch, together with the barrel containing themain sprin g, all as will now be more fully and specifically set forthand explained.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents the top plate of the watch,which is attached to and connected with the back plate B in the usualn'ia-nner. O is the mainspringbarrel. I) is the spindle or arbor; D theenlarged portion thereof, to which one end of the mainspring isattached. These parts may be of the ordinary construction. The top plateis countersunk at A in a little degree, while at A, which, in ahorizontal line, is within A, there is a still deeper countersink. Theobject of the former-that is, A-is to allow the heads of the screws a,which areused to secure and hold the bush or plate cl of the spindle Dupon and to the top plate A, to come below the upper face of said plate;but, obviously, this end can be accomplished in any ordinary andwell-known way. The object of the countersink at A is to furnish a seator rest for the bush d, the upper edge of which is provided with asuitable rabbet or shoulder for this purpose.

When, now, the several parts are adjusted in proper relation to eachother, and said bush secured in position by means of said screws a,which, fitting into holes in the top plate in said countersink A, areplaced so near the edge of countersink A that their heads bind upon andfasten down the said bush, the said spindle or arbor is in the ordinaryposition for use in the watch, and is securely held and fastened.

In order to detach the mainspring-barrel from the watch, the top plate Ahas a slot, E, extending from its outer edge as far as the saidcountersink A, through which, vertically and.

centrally, in a suitable opening, the arborpasses. This slot is made ofsuch size and shape as to allow the passage of said arbor through it onoccasion of the removal of the barrel and spring. To accomplish this endit is only necessary to take outthe screws a, remove the bushing d, and,by any convenient tool, or by the fingers, withdraw the several parts.The slot E forms a pathway and guide for the purpose. If needs be, theback plate may also be grooved or countersunk at B, to make more easythe way for the removal of the barrel. This operation of removal can beperformed without any difificulty, and likewise the several parts canagain, in turn, be readily replaced.

The essential gain and advantage from this improvement are, that itenables the workman to detach the parts and get at the mainspringwithout delay or loss of time, and without disturbing in any manner theother works of the watch. This is of no small advantage when it isconsidered how much time and patience are required in taking apart andputting together the several pieces of the watch, as watches are nowmade.

Having thus fully set out and described my as described, with spindle I)bush cl, screws a, mainspring-barrel U, and back plate B, substantiallyas and for the purposes herein described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

FEED. ADOLF LANGE.

YVitncsses:

CARL EDUARD MAUoKsoH, GUsTAV GUTKAES.

